Unit 1 Pt. 1 Vocabulary - Biological Bases of Behavior: Heredity & Environment, the Nervous System, & the Brain

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Flashcards for Vocabulary Quiz October 14th and 15th

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73 Terms

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Biological Psychology

The scientific study of the links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) & psychological processes.

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Nature-Nurture Issue

The controversy over the contributions of genes & experience to psychological traits & behavior.

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Natural Selection

Inherited traits enabling survival & reproduction are passed on.

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Evolutionary Psychology

The study of the evolution of behavior & the mind, using natural selection principles.

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Mutation

A random error in gene replication that leads to a change.

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Environment

Every nongenetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to experiences.

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Heredity

The genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring.

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Genes

The biochemical units of heredity.

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Identical (monozygotic) twins

Individuals developed from a single fertilized egg that split, genetically identical.

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Fraternal (dizygotic) twins

Individuals developed from separate fertilized eggs, no closer than siblings.

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Interaction

The effect of one factor depends on another (heredity and environment).

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Nervous System

The body’s electrochemical communication network.

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Central Nervous System (CNS)

The brain & spinal cord.

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Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

The sensory & motor neurons connecting the CNS to the body.

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Nerves

Bundled axons connecting the CNS with muscles, glands, & sensory organs.

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Sensory Neurons

Neurons carry incoming information from the body to the brain and spinal cord.

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Motor Neurons

Neurons carry outgoing information from the brain & spinal cord to the muscles & glands.

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Interneurons

Neurons within the brain & spinal cord that communicate internally & process information.

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Somatic Nervous System

The division of the PNS that controls the body’s skeletal muscles.

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Autonomic Nervous System

The part of the PNS that controls the glands & muscles of internal organs.

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Sympathetic Nervous System

The division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy.

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Parasympathetic Nervous System

The division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving energy.

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Reflex

A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus.

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Neuron

A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system.

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Cell Body

The part of a neuron that contains the nucleus; the cell’s life support center.

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Dendrites

A neuron’s branching extensions that receive & integrate messages.

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Axon

The segmented neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles & glands.

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Myelin Sheath

A fatty tissue layer encasing axons, enabling greater transmission speed.

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Glial Cells (Glia)

Cells that support, nourish, & protect neurons.

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Action Potential

A neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon.

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Threshold

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.

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Refractory Period

A brief resting pause after a neuron has fired.

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All-or-None Response

A neuron’s reaction of either firing or not firing.

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Synapse

The junction between the axon & dendrite of neurons.

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Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap between neurons.

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Reuptake

A neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron.

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Endorphins

Natural, opioid-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control & pleasure.

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Agonist

A molecule that increases a neurotransmitter’s action.

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Antagonist

A molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter’s action.

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Endocrine System

The body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones.

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Hormones

Chemical messengers manufactured by the endocrine glands that travel through the bloodstream.

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Biopsychosocial Approach

An integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, & social-cultural levels of analysis.

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Levels of Analysis

Differing views, from biological to psychological to social-cultural.

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Neuroplasticity

The brain’s ability to change by reorganizing or building new pathways.

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Lesion

Tissue destruction; brain lesions may occur naturally or experimentally.

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EEG (Electroencephalogram)

An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brain’s surface.

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CT (Computed Tomography) Scan

A series of X-ray photographs combined into a composite representation of a slice of the brain.

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PET (Positron Emission Tomography)

A technique for detecting brain activity by showing where glucose goes.

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MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

A technique that uses magnetic fields & radio waves to produce images of soft tissue.

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fMRI (Functional MRI)

A technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity.

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Hindbrain

Consists of the medulla, pons, & cerebellum; directs survival functions.

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Midbrain

Connects the hindbrain with the forebrain, controls some movement, & transmits auditory and visual data.

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Forebrain

Consists of the cerebral cortex, thalamus, & hypothalamus; manages complex activities.

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Brainstem

The central core of the brain, responsible for automatic survival functions.

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Medulla

The brainstem’s base; controls heartbeat & breathing.

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Thalamus

The forebrain’s sensory control center.

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Reticular Activating System

A nerve network that filters information & controls arousal.

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Cerebellum

Processes sensory input, coordinates movement output & balance.

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Limbic System

Neural system associated with emotions & drives.

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Amygdala

Neural clusters linked to emotion.

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Hypothalamus

Directs maintenance activities, helps govern the endocrine system, & is linked to emotion & reward.

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Hippocampus

Helps process explicit memories for storage.

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Cerebral Cortex

The body’s ultimate control & information-processing center.

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Frontal Lobes

Enable linguistic processing, muscle movements, higher-order thinking, & executive functioning.

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Parietal Lobes

Receives sensory input for touch & body position.

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Occipital Lobes

Receives information from the visual fields.

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Temporal Lobes

Includes auditory areas & enables language processing.

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Motor Cortex

Controls voluntary movements.

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Somatosensory Cortex

Registers & processes body touch & movement sensations.

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Association Areas

Involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, & speaking.

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Neurogenesis

The formation of new neurons.

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Corpus Callosum

Connects the two brain hemispheres & carries messages between them.

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Split Brain

A condition resulting from surgery that separates the brain’s two hemispheres.